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Booklet Introduction

What is Addiction

Is Addiction a Disease

An Alternative School of Thought

First Barrier to Recovery

Drugs Stores in the Body

Cravings

Depression

The Addict and Depression

Addicted Lifestyle

Guilt

Turning the Corner to Recovery

Solving Addiction

The Narconon Program

Withdrawal

Therapeutic Training Routines

New Lief Detoxification

Learning Improvement

Communication and Perception

Ups and Downs in Life

Personal Values and Integrity

Changing Conditions in Life

The Way to Happiness

Graduate Successes

The Narconon Program Evolution

How You Can Help An Addict



Is Addiction a Disease

Whether a person is genetically or biochemically pre­disposed to addiction or alcoholism is a controversy that has been debated for years within the scientific, medical and chemical dependency communities. One school of thought advocates the “disease concept” which embraces the notion that addiction is an inherited disease, and that the individual is chronically ill at a genetic level, even those who experience long periods of sobriety.

Another philosophy argues that addiction is a dual problem composed of a physical and mental dependency on chemicals, compounded by a pre-existing mental disorder (i.e., clinical depression, bipolar disorder or some other mental illness) and that the mental disorder needs to be treated as the primary cause of the addiction.

A third philosophy subscribes to the idea that chemical dependency leads to permanent chemical imbalances in the brain that must be treated with psychotropic medi­cations (drugs that act on the mind, altering mood or behavior) and sometimes antipsychotic medications after the person withdraws from the drug to which they are addicted.

While it is true that there is some scientific research that supports each of these concepts, it is also true that none of these theories are absolute. A review of national averages shows that addiction treatment programs based on these theories result in recovery rates of just 16% to 20%.

 

 
 
 
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